Kenya Legal Research : What is Legal Research?

Legal researchis "the process of identifying and retrieving information necessary to support legal decision-making. In its broadest sense, legal research includes each step of a course of action that begins with an analysis of the facts of a problem and concludes withthe application and communication of theresults of the investigation."

Definition of Legal Research
Legal research is generally the process of finding an answer to a legal question or checking for legal precedent that can be cited in a brief or at trial. Sometimes, legal research can help determine whether a legal issue is a "case of first impression" that is unregulated or lacks legal precedent. Virtually every lawsuit, appeal, criminal case, and legal process in general requires some amount of legal research.

Legal information is organized into two general categories:
1.Primary Law:Binding law that is codified in statutes, regulations, and caselaw.
2.Secondary Sources:Not legally binding, this type of information explains primary law and legal theory; including legal digests, treatises, journals, etc.